Killswitch Engage frontman Jesse Leach has given an extensive interview to Artisan News, which is available below. In it he is asked about his thoughts on the now infamous racist outburst of Phil Anselmo of Down, Ex-Pantera, etc. fame. Anselmo of course continues to apologize for those actions. Leach himself has long embraced many cultures and strived against racism in both his professional and personal life. When asked of how he felt about Anselmo, he replied
“It shouldn’t rock the metal community; they should have known. The guy’s done this before. It’s not a surprise. What’s a surprise, is backstepping. If that’s what you are, and that’s what you’re all about, then so be it.
To me, there’s no place for that in music, but that’s just my opinion. I think it’s terrible. I wrote a lot of songs about actively fighting against racism.
Every time I get this question, my answer is the song ‘Hate By Design‘. Just read the lyrics. There’s your answer.”
He later continued:
“Pantera is a legacy, absolutely. But, to me, it’s like Pantera was a band; it wasn’t just Phil. It’s Pantera. I’m not gonna hate Pantera because of what one person did. But, you know, the way I think about it now, he dug his own grave, and good luck to him.”
Killswitch Engage‘s new album “Incarnate” is in stores now.
